Eat Your Way To Flat Abs With These Super Foods

Avocados

These
little green guys are nutrition goldmines! They contain lots of the
"good" fats—i.e. mono-saturated fats—which fill you up, but don't get
stored as fat. This means you'll feel full for longer, without gaining
weight. Plus, one 2014 study from Nutrition journal found
that people who ate half an avocado for lunch were more full until
dinner than those who didn't.

Black Pepper

Adding
half a teaspoon of pepper to your meals can truly help you slim down.
That's because pepper contains a compound called piperine that helps
fight the formation of new fat cells. Plus, other studies suggest that
eating spicy foods in general may boost our metabolism, so your body
will fight fat more quickly over time.

Apples

Not
only does one a day keep the doctor away, it also keeps the pounds at
bay, according to an October 2014 study published in the journal Food
Chemistry. That's because apples have non-digestible compounds—fiber and
polyphenols—that promote the growth of good bacteria in your gut that
may help you slim down. Aim for one apple per day (or two or three if
you're feeling ambitious!). Just be sure to eat them raw—cooking them
destroys the polyphenols.

Almonds

These tasty nuts are great for your abs, as long as
you snack on them in moderation. That's because they're filled with
fiber and healthy fats, which is a great combo for curbing your snacking
throughout the day. Stick with one shotglass per serving, plus a piece
of fruit to get you closer to that "full" feeling, and you won't overdo
it.

Blueberries, Raspberries, and Strawberries

Not only
are berries jam-packed with antioxidants, they're also loaded with
fiber, which keeps you full for longer. Plus, they're a healthy
carbohydrate, which means that your body doesn't turn the carbs into
sugar, and thus, fat—it uses them for energy. Blueberries in particular
have even been found to help break down abdominal fat.

White Fish Like Tilapia And Cod

These
white fish are packed with protein, which takes the most work for your
body to break down compared to other macro-nutrients, fats, and carbs,
meaning you won't be as a hungry as quickly. As a result, protein helps
your body curb cravings, so you're less likely to take in unnecessary
calories.

Green Veggies Like Broccoli And Asparagus

You
know they're good for you—and your waistline—but why? All the fiber
takes longer for your gastric juices to break down, plus it acts like a
barrier that prevents sugars from entering your blood stream too
quickly, which can lead to insulin resistance and belly fat
accumulation.

String Cheese

Increasing
your consumption of dairy foods and protein while you're trying to slim
down helps you lose weight and gain lean muscle mass, according to a
2011 Journal of Nutrition study. The reason is rooted in two key
ingredients in dairy: whey and calcium. Whey contains a lot of leucine,
an amino acid which stimulates the formation of new muscle proteins. And
as for weight loss, it's all about the calcium. It helps excrete fat in
the intestine rather than absorbing it, meaning you'll absorb less fat
overall.

Pine Nuts

Sure, these babies are delicious
sprinkled on hummus and in salads—but they're also a major hunger
suppressant. 2006 researched presented at the Experimental Biology
convention found that having half a teaspoon of pine nut oil, which is
about a handful of actual pine nuts, may help you ward off your need to
feed for at least four hours because they boost appetite suppressors up
to 60%.

Salmon

The delicious fish contains tons of
monounsaturated fats, which can help you slim down. Why? Healthy fat
keeps you full for longer. A study published in the journal Cell
Metabolism found that your body converts unsaturated fats into a
compound that curbs your hunger. Just be sure to get the wild kind, not
the farm-raised kind, because the farm fish are full of antibiotics and
other chemicals, which could harm your health in the long run.